[Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Nakissery. [Photo/snaradio.net]
Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Nkaissery has dismissed a Court ruling, which termed as unconstitutional, government’s plans to close the world’s largest refugee camp, Dadaab.
The Ministry had warned that the complex serves as a foothold and recruiting ground for Islamist militants, smuggling zone and one that triggers insecurity.
The ruling breathed relief to the mostly Somali refugees in the sprawling Dadaab camp, which holds hundreds of thousands of people fleeing unrest in Somalia.
Nkaissery termed the ruling as null and void, since the exercise is being done willingly, without putting pressure to the refugees.
“We are not forcing the refugees to get out of the camp. It is being done willingly. We are taking them back to their homes, at their will. So, there is no reason why the exercise should be unconstitutional. It is as per the International Repatriation Laws,’’ said the CS.
‘’So, the ruling is null and void. We will continue with the repatriation exercise as it started,’’ he added, Friday.
Nkaissery was speaking in Kajiado Central Sub-county.